THE MINERS VOICE President/Native Title Co-Ordinator: Greg Charlton greg@qsma.com.au 0419 748 432 Acting Vice President: Trevor Harwood trevor@qsma.com.au 0419 503 298 Secretary: Carol Graham carolgraham3@bigpond.com.au 07 4985 4290 Treasurer/Assistant Secretary: Megan Harwood megan@qsma.com.au 0403 653 335

MISSION STATEMENT

TO PROVIDE A CENTRAL BODY TO LIAISE, COORDINATE AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR MINING AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ISSUES RELATED TO THE CENTRAL QUEENSLAND SAPPHIRE FIELDS.

ISSUE: 9 19th December 2016

MEMBERS NEWSLETTER

Dear Member,

Welcome to the latest issue of The Miners Voice.

TOPICS IN THIS NEWSLETTER Treasurers Report Secretarys Report DNRM Report DNRM Native Title Section Report General Notices Presidents/Native Title Co-ordinators Report

PO BOX 364, Rubyvale, Qld 4702 www.qsma.com.au

Queensland Sapphire Miners Association Inc.

Inc

TREASURERS REPORT: Membership renewals were due again as of the 1st July 2016, if after this newsletter you are not a financial member you will no longer continue to receive newsletters. If you have given the QSMA Inc. consent to negotiate Native Title on your behalf, you must remain a member of the Association for us to be able to do this for you. You will also need to ensure that your current contact details are up to date, not only with us but also with the DNRM (Department of Natural Resources and Mines). To change your details with the DNRM forms available from their Emerald Office, the form just needs to be completed, signed and returned to the DNRM. If you need to change your details with us please us the attached membership form and tick the change of details box, and please, remember to sign and date the form and return it to me (Megan), to the address on this page. As the Native Title Negotiations are getting closer to an agreement in Principle, is it imperative for everyone concerned that we have your correct details. If you are not sure whether you have given consent you can contact me (Megan) on 0403 653 335. Please be reminded that, you still have and have always had, the right to Negotiate Native Title on your own behalf. Regarding membership renewals and new memberships, we have a new form this year, this is keeping in line with the Office of Fair Trading and keeping us up to date with you all. If you would like to renew using the form attached, please complete, sign and date the form. Any Cheques or money orders must be made out to the QSMA Inc. Please return the form to: The Treasurer QSMA Inc. PO Box 364 Rubyvale Qld 4702 MEMBERS PERSONAL IMFORMATION: PLEASE NOTE: ANYONE who asks for a copy of the Members Register for any reason will be told, “A RESOUNDING “NO”. This is your personal information and under the “ACT”, personal information cannot be given out for, advertising, religious or political reasons or for financial gain. There is also “THE PRIVACY ACT” of which a couple of you have already been informed of (you know who you are), do not use other members of the Association to try and get this information for you. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will I or any other member of the Committee give your information to anyone, no matter who they are. This requires your permission and from the many members we have spoken to about their information being “OUT THERE” so to speak, there is NOT one single member that will give permission for this to occur. PLEASE NOTE, your information “IS SAFE” with us. Remember We Are Here for You Many thanks for your continued support. Megan Harwood Treasurer/Assistant Secretary QSMA Inc.

2016/2017 Member No: ………………………

Membership & Renewal Application Form $35.00 Per Year I wish to become a Member of the Q.S.M.A. and agree to abide by the Rules of the Association.

New Application Renewal Change of Details

New Membership Applications are subject to Approval.

Title: …………………………………………… Date of Birth: ……….. /………../…..………….

Given Name: ………………………………………………………………Surname: ……………………………………………………………………

Current Mailing Address: …………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

State: .................................................................... Postcode: ………….………..…………………………………………………….

Phone No: ………………………………………………………………………………. Claim No: ……………….…………………….….………

Email: ……………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………….…..……..……….…………..

EMERGENCEY CONTACT DETAILS:

Name: ……………………………………………………………………… Phone No: ………………...……………..…………………………..…

How did you hear about us: …..………………….…………...........................................................................................

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Tick the box if you require a copy of the Rules of the Association.

The information I have provided is true and correct.

Signature of Applicant: ……..……………………………………………………………………… Date: ……….……………….………………. CASH CHEQUE MONEY ORDER

______________________________________OFFICE ONLY_______________________________________

Receipt Number: ……..…………………………………………………………… Submitted By: ……………………………………………………………………………

Approved by the Committee

President: …………………………………………………………………………….. Secretary: ………………………………………………………………………………..

Date Approved/Rejected: ……………………………………………………… Date Entered: ………………………………………………………………………….

PO BOX 364, Rubyvale, Qld 4702 www.qsma.com.au

Queensland Sapphire Miners Association Inc.

Inc

SECRETARY’S REPORT: The QSMA Executive and some committee members accompanied Robert O’Grady, principle Electrical Safety

Inspector Rockhampton, on the 11th October 2016 and identified numerous low Electricity wires spanning from

Sapphire to Rubyvale and the condition of many poles. Manual pole heights were recorded on some of the areas of

great concern and Mr O’Grady assured those in attendance that he will insure Ergon responds to these as a matter of

urgency and inform QSMA of this action going forward. It had been noted by several members of the Committee that

on the afternoon after the Inspection, Ergon was attending to some of those wires identified by the QSMA in the

inspection. Since then Ergon have been prominent on the Gemfields attending to the numerous low wires including

replacement of some polls. We await Mr O’Grady’s finalisation report on Ergon then we can all look forward to a safer

living & working environment.

Due to the new MERCP Act that came into effect on the 27th September there have been a few changes for Miners in

this area. The most important being the removal of the Pegging Permit as prerequisite resource authority and

replaced with a form “Notice of Entry for Public Land” on Unallocated State Land, these forms are to be lodged with

the Department of State Land Management, Townsville( 5) days prior to pegging at email

townsville.slams@dnrm.qld.gov.au and those wishing to peg on Freehold/Leasehold land are to send Entry Notices

for Private Land to the appropriate Landowner.

The second issue of importance is this Legislation has increased the 100 metre buffer to a 200 metre buffer from

Freehold homesteads, which is in stark contrast to the QSMA seeking and lobbying Government Ministers for a 10

metre buffer from Homesteads. Your Executive has previously lobbied, had discussions and sent numerous Letters

and E-mails to various Members and Ministers with regards to reducing the 100 metre rule to the 10 metre rule

including our submissions to the Tenure reform Legislation which preceded the MERCP Act.

This dismissal of QSMA requested and lobbied reforms from our sector is prevalent with all Small Mining Groups

including the North Queensland Mining Association. Anyone who is a small miner wishing to join a Forum for lobbying

Government Departments etc. can contact Vicky Lake at vickylake074@bigpond.com Phone 0405 112 154 (who is

also a Committee member with North Queensland Miners Association) is forming a united group to appeal to R.

Katter, S Knuth, B. Gordon and also appealing to Pauline Hanson for support on small miners issues.

The QSMA have had a lot of feedback from Permit holders with regards to the Waste Management Charge, your

collective voice is that the CHRC is going on a cash drive to milk the miners of the Gemfields as there are many small

claims with numerous miners giving council an enormous increase in what they are already getting out of the miners

for no services to speak of on the Gemfields. QSMA have written confirmation that Council will be considering the

Non-Principal place of residence concession’s and multiple mining claims in single ownership, to be offered for

consideration in next year’s budget discussions. I recommend at the last Community Reference Group meeting that

the relevant Councillors who initiated this Levy attend our next Public/General Meeting of which I highly encourage

you all to attend.

Our actions to have the Reward/Sapphire Road upgraded have been unsuccessful, the Council have reported that it

would cost $700,000.00 to have it upgraded and $100.000 per year maintenance and Council could not afford these

costs. We are in the process of having a petition from the community for this to be reviewed. We did not need a

highway just an accessible access for Miners and Tourists and emergency vehicles not only as a daily access to mines

but a second escape route from any disaster that could occur in the Reward area.

Carol Graham Secretary QSMA Inc.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND MINES (DNRM)

Are your contact details up to date: ?

Have you changed or even checked that your contact details are correct with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM)? All holders are reminded that it is a requirement under the Mineral Resources Act 1989 to provide updates of contact details as they change. This includes a postal address, home and mobile phone number as well as email addresses.

It is important that a holder’s contact details are up to date in the DNRM register to ensure that any correspondence, including renewal notifications, are sent to the most current and correct address. Failure to advise DNRM of any change could result in a mining tenure expiring in the case of not receiving a renewal notification.

As DNRM now continues to work with QSNTS (Western Kangoulou Representatives) and the QSMA to finalise the Right to Negotiate process in the Gemfields, there will be a requirement for DNRM to forward important correspondence including updates, timeframes and required processes to be undertaken by holder’s and applicants to progress their individual applications.

A holder can update their contact details via MyMinesOnline or by visiting the Emerald DNRM office and simply completing a form. There is NO cost to this process.

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DNRM – NATIVE TITLE SECTION:

Update from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines with regards to the Gemfields Right to Negotiate Native Title process.

An in-principle agreement has been reached between the negotiating parties (the State, the QSMA and the Western Kangoulu People). What does this mean for permit holders undertaking the Right to Negotiate process? While at present it is only an in-principle agreement and further details need to be finalised, all permit holders and applicants need to ensure that their contact details are up-to-date with the Department, as we will be sending out correspondence over the coming months. Permit holders and applicants can check their contact details through MyMinesOnline. The Department will continue to work with the QSMA over the coming months to finalise the process.

If you have any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Julieanne Butteriss

Principal Project Officer

Native Title Services, Central I Mining and Petroleum Operations Department of Natural Resources and Mines

PRESIDENTS REPORT/NATIVE TITLE REPORT: Greetings to all members, long term and new. It appears that yet another year is about to come to a close and a lot has happened this year that has kept your Committee quite busy. The General Meeting and the Annual General Meeting held on the 20th August 2016 was well attended by the members. There are a number of issues that will need to be addressed in this report. NATIVE TITLE NEGOTIATIONS: These negotiations are moving along quite well now and are expected to be finalised in the very near future, as you will no doubt realise, it has been a long journey, however having said that, your negotiating team has always been confident of a positive outcome. For those who were unable to attend the General Meeting held on the 20th August there are a couple of points that you must be made aware of: In the New Year, The Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) will be in contact with those Mining Permit holders in the batches of advertising outside the notification period to advise these permit holders of the situation in reference to Native Title. FIRST POINT: You must ensure that your contact details with the DNRM and the QSMA are up to date, I cannot emphasise this point enough. If these details are not correct there will be issues. You must be able to be contacted no matter where your travels take you. SECOND POINT: Regarding any arrears E.G: Bonds and/or Financial Assuraties including Compensation to the Native Title Parties will need to be paid before any Renewals or Applications can go to grant. Strategies will be put in place to ensure that there will be a convenient method of payment for these arrears. START SAVING YOUR MONEY NOW. THIRD POINT: When it is required to sign the Ancillary Agreement and the Section (31) Deed (a state document), the DNRM will organise signing days here at The Gemfields for permanent miners and any mining permit holder who may be on The Gemfields at the time, (a place and dates are yet to be confirmed). For those Members that do not live on the Fields, the logistics are still to be worked out for the signing of these documents. Be reassured systems will be put in place where by this matter can be handled by Mail, Email and phone contact. The QSMA and the DNRM will be in contact when the time is more appropriate. PROHIBITED MACHINERY: - From the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM).

1. Prohibited Machinery – Legal advice received has confirmed that underground diggers are prohibited machinery in accordance with the MRA for hand mining claims. DNRM will now commence a compliance inspection program of the ones the DNRM know are located on The Gemfields and take appropriate action.

RATES: - From the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM). 2. Rates – The DNRM have been advised that there is a significant amount (300+) Tenure Holders, who

owe rates to the Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC), some Tenure Holders owe excessive amounts for numerous years. It is a condition of a mining claim (Section 81(1)I(iii), that rates are paid. The DNRM will be commencing Show Cause Action against the offending Tenure Holders, with a view to cancel Tenures.

The QSMA is just the messenger on the above two items.

MY MINES ON LINE (MMOL): I am concerned by the fact the two members on The Gemfields are making unsubstantiated and defamatory accusation about how MMOL is handled for members by the QSMA, E.G, payment and the handling fees for this service. The facts are. The QSMA does not do and has never done MMOL. This service is provided by a Private Company that has vast experience in the minefield that is DNRM paperwork for Renewals, Transfers, Applications, EPM’s and the rest. At a Committee Meeting held in July 2014, MMOL for members was discussed and a fee structure for QSMA members was raised, moved and voted on. This motion was actually seconded by one of the accusers. Because of the complexity and infancy of MMOL at the time, the services of a Private Company were enlisted by the Association, as a discount was to be given to members, the QSMA was to supply all printing paper and ink so a lodgement fee of $30.00 paid to the QSMA was to cover those expenses and the balance was to be used to raise funds for legal costs in regards to Native Title. A very generous Discount has been to date, afforded to members of the QSMA by this Company. I have been in discussions with this provider about the accusations and I was informed that if these accusations persist then the discount for QSMA members will be discontinued. This would be a great loss to you, The Members. It is true that anyone can do MMOL, but the questions that needs to be asked is this, is a person able to do MMOL themselves, want to employ someone who thinks they know how to do MMOL and may want to charge you for their services or get a professional who knows exactly what they are doing. I know where the smart money goes. Make no mistake, changes are constantly being made to the MMOL format, so I say to any person out there who may wish to take on doing MMOL for profit or not, I suggest that you had best have your thinking cap on tightly, nor imply that you are providing this service on behalf of the Queensland Sapphire Miners Association Inc. without having the expressed written consent of this Association. So, until you next newsletter, good health and lucky finds. From your President Greg Charlton QSMA Inc.

GENERAL NOTICES:

On the 20th of August 2016, we held a General Meeting and the AGM at the MPC in Sapphire.

Below is a list of the new committee and their positions.

EXECUTIVE:

President: Greg Charlton

Vice President: Trevor Harwood

Secretary: Carol Graham

Treasurer/Assistant Secretary: Megan Harwood

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

John Hartley

Greg Graham

B J Graham

Andrew Knight

Laurie Bell

Not much has changed regarding the committee except that we now have 2 new committee members.

Welcome to Andrew Knight and Laurie Bell, hope you have as much fun as we do ha ha.

We would also like to thank Steve Urch for the many years he has dedicated to the QSPA, which is now the

QSMA, good luck with your mining Steve, may you find many a large Sapphire.

Greg Charlton is still the Native Title Coordinator and the executive is also your Native Title Negotiating Team.

Native title will still proceed as normal and we will let you know as soon as we have an outcome.

MY MINES ON LINE: PLEASE NOTE:

Due to Carol’s extremely heavy workload, (E.G, the many MMOL renewals and transfers being processed

present), It Is Imperative that you phone and make an appointment if you require help with lodging a renewal

or transfer of a mining claim, Failure to do so WILL result in you being turned away.

DOGS ON CLAIMS:

We are getting more and more people complaining about dogs on the loose.

It is a statuary condition of your mining claim to have all animals restrained to prevent them from going

outside the boundary of your claim. Therefore, it is an offence to let your pets roam outside your claim. For

more information on effective dog control, there is a pamphlet available from the Central Highlands Regional

Council in Emerald.

We will be taking a bit of a break around the Christmas/New Year period but are still available for any urgent

enquires.

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.